PH Parents - baby essentials
Discussion
Baby No 1 is due at the end of March.
Like most parents to be I am finding the amount of products, options and advice available quiote overwhelming.
With most things both myself and my wife have a tendancy to have a bit of a 'if in doubt get it' mindset but I really don't want to go massively OTT with baby stuff if it's going to be used once or twice then never used again.
Can the knowledgeable parents of PH give me your list of the real essentials for the first 6 months and any examples of what stuff you bought that really wasn't needed?
I think we can discount the really obvious stuff such as Car seat, pram, moses basket.
Thanks in advance.
Like most parents to be I am finding the amount of products, options and advice available quiote overwhelming.
With most things both myself and my wife have a tendancy to have a bit of a 'if in doubt get it' mindset but I really don't want to go massively OTT with baby stuff if it's going to be used once or twice then never used again.
Can the knowledgeable parents of PH give me your list of the real essentials for the first 6 months and any examples of what stuff you bought that really wasn't needed?
I think we can discount the really obvious stuff such as Car seat, pram, moses basket.
Thanks in advance.
/Mumsnet mode on
- A little plastic seat that you can put inside the bath/babybath is great for new borns as it leaves both your hands free and supports their neck. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babyway-BNBS-Newborn-Bath-...
- An 'in ear' electric thermometer thing is great for checking if they are ill or just whingy.
- An oil filled radiator to keep their room/your room consistently warm without having to heat the whole house.
- A monitor with built in heart rate sensor allows you to relax a lot more if it's your first baby, try Angelcare.
- A decent video camera.
- A bedroom thermometer.
- Neils Yard baby balm (awesome stuff).
Loads of other stuff......
- A little plastic seat that you can put inside the bath/babybath is great for new borns as it leaves both your hands free and supports their neck. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babyway-BNBS-Newborn-Bath-...
- An 'in ear' electric thermometer thing is great for checking if they are ill or just whingy.
- An oil filled radiator to keep their room/your room consistently warm without having to heat the whole house.
- A monitor with built in heart rate sensor allows you to relax a lot more if it's your first baby, try Angelcare.
- A decent video camera.
- A bedroom thermometer.
- Neils Yard baby balm (awesome stuff).
Loads of other stuff......
Pretty much what DoubleSix said.
Word of warning about the HR monitoring baby monitors. They are great for piece of mind, but as the baby gets a bit more mobile and moves away from the sensor they false alarm. First time that happened I have never moved so fast in my life. Could have out run Usain Bolt on the way to the bedroom.
Word of warning about the HR monitoring baby monitors. They are great for piece of mind, but as the baby gets a bit more mobile and moves away from the sensor they false alarm. First time that happened I have never moved so fast in my life. Could have out run Usain Bolt on the way to the bedroom.
Calpol, Metanium and infacol (maybe - depends on nipper).
If she's breastfeeding, lansinoh cream. If you're bottle feeding get an electric steriliser that keeps things constantly sterile, saves cocking about when nipper decides they're hungry. As do a few small cartons of ready-made milk.
Personally, I'd not bother with a heart rate monitor. I wanted a night vision webcam in there instead but that was vetoed...
Changing mat with proper wedges of foam down the side is more effective at stopping them roll. No need for a changing station, you'll be doing it wherever and whenever within a couple of days. Speaking of changing, a Skip Hop Pronto is all the change bag you'll ever need:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skip-Hop-Pronto-Changer-Bl...
Amazon also worth while looking at for nappies & wipes etc.
Edit - and on the bath front, not necessary as such but we had one of these and it makes life a lot easier, you can get to both sides (useful when granny wants to help...) and you don't have to fill the whole bath.
http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-two-sta...
If she's breastfeeding, lansinoh cream. If you're bottle feeding get an electric steriliser that keeps things constantly sterile, saves cocking about when nipper decides they're hungry. As do a few small cartons of ready-made milk.
Personally, I'd not bother with a heart rate monitor. I wanted a night vision webcam in there instead but that was vetoed...
Changing mat with proper wedges of foam down the side is more effective at stopping them roll. No need for a changing station, you'll be doing it wherever and whenever within a couple of days. Speaking of changing, a Skip Hop Pronto is all the change bag you'll ever need:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skip-Hop-Pronto-Changer-Bl...
Amazon also worth while looking at for nappies & wipes etc.
Edit - and on the bath front, not necessary as such but we had one of these and it makes life a lot easier, you can get to both sides (useful when granny wants to help...) and you don't have to fill the whole bath.
http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-two-sta...
Edited by starnberg on Friday 18th October 15:58
DoubleSix said:
- A little plastic seat that you can put inside the bath/babybath is great for new borns as it leaves both your hands free and supports their neck. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babyway-BNBS-Newborn-Bath-...
- An 'in ear' electric thermometer thing is great for checking if they are ill or just whingy.
- An oil filled radiator to keep their room/your room consistently warm without having to heat the whole house.
- A monitor with built in heart rate sensor allows you to relax a lot more if it's your first baby, try Angelcare.
- A decent video camera.
- A bedroom thermometer.
- Neils Yard baby balm (awesome stuff).
Can I just reassure the OP that you don't need any of that s- An 'in ear' electric thermometer thing is great for checking if they are ill or just whingy.
- An oil filled radiator to keep their room/your room consistently warm without having to heat the whole house.
- A monitor with built in heart rate sensor allows you to relax a lot more if it's your first baby, try Angelcare.
- A decent video camera.
- A bedroom thermometer.
- Neils Yard baby balm (awesome stuff).
t.Relax. Just make sure he/she is fed and happy. And, boy do they let you know if they are not!
Oh, and counter-intuitively, too hot is worse than too cold.
DoubleSix said:
- A little plastic seat that you can put inside the bath/babybath is great for new borns as it leaves both your hands free and supports their neck. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babyway-BNBS-Newborn-Bath-...
As a dad of 6 weeks I'd second this. Trying to hold a slippery new born in the bath with one arm and then wash with the other isn't easy the first few times and for the sake of a tenner it's worth it.Don't waste money on fancy gadgets. I did and realise I was a fool.
grumbledoak said:
Can I just reassure the OP that you don't need any of that st.
Relax. Just make sure he/she is fed and happy. And, boy do they let you know if they are not!
Oh, and counter-intuitively, too hot is worse than too cold.
Well as a parent of 7 month old I found all of 'that st.Relax. Just make sure he/she is fed and happy. And, boy do they let you know if they are not!
Oh, and counter-intuitively, too hot is worse than too cold.
t' to be rather useful actualy, despite my partner being a pediatric nurse.Thanks for the infinite wisdom of too hot being worse than too cold. This insight is covered on page one of any decent baby book of course, but doesn't alter the fact that it can pretty nippy in March when the OPs baby is due. Ours was born 07/03 and night temps in our solid walled period property were dropping to single digits so an oil filled radiator proved to be an excellent buy rather than running central heating 24 hrs.
Tell me grumbleb
ks why exactly do you dismiss simple and cheap items like the bath chair, baby balm (ours is the only baby in it's group not to have had nasty nappy rash), thermometer etc??? You know you can be a relaxed parent and have useful items aswell.... NiceCupOfTea said:
I bought a foscam ipcam for remote viewing and it's great. Plenty of white noise apps for smart phones.
Loads of muslins
Join the nct and go to one of their sales. It will be terrifying but thou will be able to get some bargains.
Bouncer
Sorry, read that as loads of Muslims Loads of muslins
Join the nct and go to one of their sales. It will be terrifying but thou will be able to get some bargains.
Bouncer
For our little one...... Sorry..... For our DS *evil lemon thing*
For food
Steriliser and 8 container things with nipples, my partner didn't produce breast milk so had to use formula milk.
Bibs x 8
For day to day sleeping
Baby grows x 7
Those funny little hats
Mittens, but he kept pulling them off so eventually gave up with those
3 x blankets for wrapping him up in for bed
Moses basket & stand
Thermometer for room temp.
For changing nappies, etc
Changing mat (saves puddles of urine staining your carpet )
Nappies (we changed at each food to start with, so every three hours 24 hours a day as an idea for quantity)
Baby wipes - supermarket own brands were better as drier than Huggies which caused a rash
Emergency kitchen roll in case the hosepipe fires
Out and about
Pram, we bought an Out n About Nipper with the cosie toes. Was fine in an ice rink when he was a week old
Car seat, we found it best to get the isofix base too as otherwise it can be a pain in the arse getting it in and out of the car
Medication etc
Thermometer
Calpol
I think that's all we needed, toys are pointless to start with as for the first few weeks they just eat, sleep and poop.
For food
Steriliser and 8 container things with nipples, my partner didn't produce breast milk so had to use formula milk.
Bibs x 8
For day to day sleeping
Baby grows x 7
Those funny little hats
Mittens, but he kept pulling them off so eventually gave up with those
3 x blankets for wrapping him up in for bed
Moses basket & stand
Thermometer for room temp.
For changing nappies, etc
Changing mat (saves puddles of urine staining your carpet
)Nappies (we changed at each food to start with, so every three hours 24 hours a day as an idea for quantity)
Baby wipes - supermarket own brands were better as drier than Huggies which caused a rash
Emergency kitchen roll in case the hosepipe fires
Out and about
Pram, we bought an Out n About Nipper with the cosie toes. Was fine in an ice rink when he was a week old
Car seat, we found it best to get the isofix base too as otherwise it can be a pain in the arse getting it in and out of the car
Medication etc
Thermometer
Calpol
I think that's all we needed, toys are pointless to start with as for the first few weeks they just eat, sleep and poop.
A pediatric nurse, eh? I guess I've been told. 
OP -
a whole industry relies on you not knowing any better and selling you no end of crap. Beware.
a pram isn't that useful for long but remains large until you can off-load it on some other unsuspecting new parents. The MacLaren buggies that fold flat are a much more versatile purchase.
The changing mat with foam sides mentioned above is a good buy as it will help the baby understand the changing routine(*) And you won't develop any attachment to it so you can sling it out when the time comes.
Sudocrem works on the messy end.
Almond oil for cradle cap.
Mostly, it's not the 'things' that matter to babies. Time and love.
Good luck.
ETA-
the vented bottles are better for preventing colic. We used the Avent ones and the electric pump.
hand blenders and lots of little Tupperware containers are good for blitzing and freezing food.
* a nappy change song is good too, but I'll leave you to invent your own.
OP -
a whole industry relies on you not knowing any better and selling you no end of crap. Beware.
a pram isn't that useful for long but remains large until you can off-load it on some other unsuspecting new parents. The MacLaren buggies that fold flat are a much more versatile purchase.
The changing mat with foam sides mentioned above is a good buy as it will help the baby understand the changing routine(*) And you won't develop any attachment to it so you can sling it out when the time comes.
Sudocrem works on the messy end.
Almond oil for cradle cap.
Mostly, it's not the 'things' that matter to babies. Time and love.
Good luck.
ETA-
the vented bottles are better for preventing colic. We used the Avent ones and the electric pump.
hand blenders and lots of little Tupperware containers are good for blitzing and freezing food.
* a nappy change song is good too, but I'll leave you to invent your own.
Edited by grumbledoak on Friday 18th October 16:35
grumbledoak said:
A pediatric nurse, eh? I guess I've been told.
OP -
a whole industry relies on you not knowing any better and selling you no end of crap. Beware.
a pram isn't that useful for long but remains large until you can off-load it on some other unsuspecting new parents. The MacLaren buggies that fold flat are a much more versatile purchase.
The changing mat with foam sides mentioned above is a good buy as it will help the baby understand the changing routine(*) And you won't develop any attachment to it so you can sling it out when the time comes.
Sudocrem works on the messy end.
Almond oil for cradle cap.
Mostly, it's not the 'things' that matter to babies. Time and love.
Good luck.
* a nappy change song is good too, but I'll leave you to invent your own.
You muppet. The point about my Mrs being a ped nurse is simply that you'd expect her to know what is essential, what is useful, and what is marketing guff. I'd put all the above items I've mentioned in the 'useful' category as OP said he had covered essentials.OP -
a whole industry relies on you not knowing any better and selling you no end of crap. Beware.
a pram isn't that useful for long but remains large until you can off-load it on some other unsuspecting new parents. The MacLaren buggies that fold flat are a much more versatile purchase.
The changing mat with foam sides mentioned above is a good buy as it will help the baby understand the changing routine(*) And you won't develop any attachment to it so you can sling it out when the time comes.
Sudocrem works on the messy end.
Almond oil for cradle cap.
Mostly, it's not the 'things' that matter to babies. Time and love.
Good luck.
* a nappy change song is good too, but I'll leave you to invent your own.
Of course the industry is full of crap you don't need but let's give each other a bit of credit shall we?? Tell me again why the Op doesn't need a room thermometer? or some means of making sure the room is warm enough? Or something to help him bath the baby when his Mrs is catching up on sleep??
As for MacLaren buggies, yeah they're great (we have one) but you can't put a f
king new born in one ffs! The baby needs to lie flat as is it undergoing major bone growth in the early months. You seem to be suggesting the OP doesn't need a pram!At least some of your other suggestions are more useful now you've dropped the "I'm a geezer, babies don't need much" routine.
Edited by DoubleSix on Friday 18th October 16:47
Good advice above. When my first was born, I had no baby gear at all, not even a nappy.
I was able to buy everything I needed in half an hour in mothercare. However, I wouldn't recommend that approach as I ended up with what they had in stock and not what I would have actually bought/needed otherwise.
I was able to buy everything I needed in half an hour in mothercare. However, I wouldn't recommend that approach as I ended up with what they had in stock and not what I would have actually bought/needed otherwise.
OP, we had twins in 2011 and this was the (not exhaustive) list of stuff we bought to prepare for the onslaught:
- Nappies
- Babygrows
- Vests
- Wipes
- Towels
- Blankets
- Moses Baskets
- Bedding
- Monitor
- Steriliser
- The lightest and most manoeuvrable pram available (Quinny / iCandy etc)
- Car seats
- Muslins
- Coffee / Pro-Plus
Good luck!
- Nappies
- Babygrows
- Vests
- Wipes
- Towels
- Blankets
- Moses Baskets
- Bedding
- Monitor
- Steriliser
- The lightest and most manoeuvrable pram available (Quinny / iCandy etc)
- Car seats
- Muslins
- Coffee / Pro-Plus
Good luck!
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